Early American Civilizations Native civilizations that began in Latin America were: A.Olmec...

Early American Civilizations

• Native civilizations that began in Latin America were:

A. Olmec

B. Zapotec

C. Maya

D. Aztec

E. Inca

Olmec

- Mother Civilization of Mesoamerica

- Gulf Coast of Mexico- Religious Complexes- Carved stone heads at La Venta- Calendar

Zapotec- Monte Albon, Mexico- Developed writing system- Farming- City construction

Maya• Southern Mexico and

northern Central America• Tikal, Guatemala = great

city established• Social classes• Farmers - corn• Skilled in math, developed

calendars, used astronomy to predict solar eclipses

• Pyramids• Descendants live in

Villages of Southern Mexico

Aztec

• Central Mexico. • Capital - Tenochtitlan.

– Now, Mexico City

• Practiced sacrifice and built large pyramids like the Maya

• Wealthy• Moctezuma – Emperor • Spanish: Cortes conquered

them

Inca

• South America, Andes– in Peru and Chile.– Cuzco: Capital

• Road system• No writing system • Quipu: number system:

knotted cords represent item or number.

• Fransisco Pizarro conquered Incas